The city's population stands at 319,294, the smallest since 1870. That compares with 856,796 in 1950, when it was among the nation's 10 largest cities.

"It's certainly disappointing," said Dick Fleming, president and chief executive officer of St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. "My understanding is, after six decades of decline, the city was starting to show an uptick in the positive direction before the recession."

The state of Missouri's total population grew by 7% the past 10 years. Minority groups in Missouri surged in population from 2000 to 2010 but remain a small percentage in the state's total population of 5,988,927.

Census numbers where you live

The state's rural counties, especially those in the north, continued to lose residents. The migration from rural areas to urban towns is nothing new, says Mike Stout, a sociologist at Missouri State University.

"It's been going on for at least 100 years," Stout says.

Yolanda Lorge, president of Grupo Latinoamericano, a community organization for Hispanics living in southwest Missouri, attributed Hispanic growth to high birthrates and immigration.

Tang also reports for the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader

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